Method for communicating with an electronic device and an electronic device locatable on or in an animal

ABSTRACT

An electronic monitoring device for attaching to an animal includes an NFC module facilitating wireless communication between a smart phone and the monitoring device, an accelerometer for monitoring acceleration of the head of the animal, and a microprocessor which determines various states of the animal from signals received from the accelerometer. The smart phone is programmed by a software application which allows an identifying code of the monitoring device to be read from the memory chip and cross-referenced in the smart phone with the identity of an animal, which can be inputted into the smart phone. Data relating to the states(s) of the animal can be read from the microprocessor through the NFC module into the smart phone. Additionally, data relating to the animal stored in a cloud server corresponding to the state or states of the animal is downloaded from the cloud server by the smart phone.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/897,421 filed Dec. 10, 2015, which is a National Stage Application ofPCT/IE2014/000011 filed Jun. 16, 2014, which claims priority from IrishPatent Application S2013/0193 filed Jun. 14, 2013 and Irish PatentApplication No. S2013/0194 filed Jun. 14, 2013, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for communicating with anelectronic device, and in particular, with an electronic memory of anelectronic device which is locatable externally on or internally in ananimal. The invention also relates to an electronic device locatableexternally on or internally in an animal which is configurable tocommunicate with an external powered device.

Electronic devices for monitoring various characteristics of an animalin order to detect one or more of a plurality of states of an animal areknown. Such electronic devices monitor movement of an animal, ormovement of a part of an animal, for example, the head of an animal.Additionally, or alternatively, such electronic devices monitor the bodytemperature, heart rate, blood pressure and/or other characteristics ofan animal. By knowing the movement of an animal, the temperature of theanimal, the heart rate and other such characteristics of an animal overan extended period of time, one or more of a plurality of states of theanimal can be detected, such states may, for example, be a state ofoestrus, feeding, ruminating, resting and the like. In such electronicdevices the characteristics are monitored either continuously orperiodically, and the data indicative of the monitored characteristicsof the animal is stored in memory in such electronic devices. Theelectronic devices may be programmed so that at predefined intervalsstored data indicative of the characteristics of an animal aretransmitted by the electronic device for reception by a base station,which analyses the stored data in order to detect one or more states ofthe animal. The data transmitted for reception by the base station, ingeneral, is the data which has been monitored and stored since the lastdata transmission. In order to transfer such data, the electronic deviceis provided with either a transmitter or a transceiver. If only atransmitter is provided, transmissions are generally carried out at theend of predefined time intervals. However, if the electronic device isprovided with a transceiver, the stored data may be transmitted atprogrammable predefined time periods and/or in response to a signalreceived by the electronic device from the base station. In general,such transmissions are carried out by radio wave transmissions over arelatively long distance. Alternatively, the electronic devices may beconfigured to communicate with a telecommunications network, forexample, a mobile phone network, and the data is transmitted to the basestation as an SMS message. In general, an identifying code whichidentifies the electronic device is stored in memory in the electronicdevice, and as each data transmission of data is being made, theidentifying code of the electronic device is transmitted with the data.The base station typically stores the identifying code of a plurality ofidentifying devices cross-referenced with the identity of the animal towhich the electronic device is attached.

Such electronic devices may be of the type referred to as an ear tagwhich is suitable for attaching to the ear of an animal, or suchelectronic devices may be of the type which are attached to the animalby a strap or other suitable ligature extending around a part of theanimal, for example, the neck of the animal, the leg of an animal, thetail or the like of the animal. Such electronic devices are of greatbenefit to a farmer, since by monitoring and detecting various states ofan animal, in the event of a state requiring intervention by the farmer,such intervention can be readily and timely made. However, adisadvantage of such devices is that data relating to the state of theanimal and the identifying code of the device, typically is onlyavailable from the base station, which in many cases, if the basestation is not located on the farm of a farmer, which in many cases itis not, accessing the data stored in the device by the farmer can beinconvenient and slow.

There is therefore a need for a method for communicating with anelectronic device located externally on or internally in an animal, andin particular, there is a need for a method for communicating with anelectronic memory of such an electronic device which overcomes problemsof known methods and devices. There is also a need for an electronicdevice locatable externally on or internally in an animal which canreadily easily be communicated with.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards providing such a method andsuch an electronic device.

According to the invention there is provided a method for communicatingwith an electronic memory of an electronic device locatable externallyon or internally in an animal, the method comprising locating a lowenergy communications module on the device configured to wirelesslycommunicate an external powered device with the electronic memory.

In one aspect of the invention an external powered device configured towirelessly communicate with the low energy communications module isbrought into close proximity with the electronic device, and wirelesscommunication is initiated between the external powered device and theelectronic device.

Preferably, wireless communication is initiated between the externalpowered device and the electronic module by the external powered device.

Advantageously, data is read wirelessly from the electronic memory ofthe electronic device by the external powered device through the lowenergy communications module. Ideally, an identifying code identifyingthe electronic device is read wirelessly from the electronic memory ofthe electronic device by the external powered device through the lowenergy communications module.

In one aspect of the invention data is written wirelessly to theelectronic memory of the electronic device by the external powereddevice through the low energy communications module.

In another aspect of the invention an identifying code of an animal onwhich the electronic device is located is written wirelessly to theelectronic memory of the electronic device by the external powereddevice through the low energy communications module.

In one embodiment of the invention the electronic device is configuredto monitor at least one of a plurality of states of the animal and tostore data indicative of the monitored states, and the stored dataindicative of the monitored states of the animal is downloadedwirelessly from the electronic device to the external powered device bythe external powered device through the low energy communicationsmodule.

In one aspect of the invention the downloaded data indicative of themonitored states of the animal is stored in the external powered device.

In another aspect of the invention the identifying code identifying theanimal is one of entered into the external powered device or downloadedwirelessly from the electronic memory of the electronic device by theexternal powered device through the low energy communications module.Preferably, the identifying code of the animal is downloaded wirelesslythrough the low energy communications module from the electronic memoryof the electronic device to the external powered device along with thedownloaded data indicative of the states of the animal. Advantageously,the downloaded stored data indicative of the state of the animal isstored in the external powered device cross-referenced with theidentifying code of the animal.

In another aspect of the invention the identifying code identifying theelectronic device is wirelessly downloaded through the low energycommunications module from the electronic memory of the electronicdevice to the external powered device along with the stored dataindicative of the states of the animal.

Preferably, the identifying code identifying the electronic device andthe identifying code identifying the animal are stored andcross-referenced with each other in the external powered device.

In one embodiment of the invention the electronic device comprises asignal processor configured to be resettable wirelessly by an externalpowered device through the low energy communications module.

In another embodiment of the invention the signal processor of theelectronic device is configured to be programmable wirelessly by anexternal powered device through the low energy communications module.

In another embodiment of the invention the signal processor of theelectronic device is configured to communicate with an external powereddevice through the low energy communications module.

In a further embodiment of the invention the signal processor of theelectronic device is configured for the downloading of data therefrom toan external powered device.

In a still further embodiment of the invention the signal processor ofthe electronic device is configured for uploading of data thereto froman external powered device.

Preferably, communications between an external powered device and thesignal processor of the electronic device is controlled by the externalpowered device.

In another embodiment of the invention the external powered device isprogrammed to control communications between itself and the signalprocessor of the electronic device.

Preferably, the low energy communications module is configured to beelectrically powered wirelessly by an external powered device.

Advantageously, the low energy communications module is configured to beelectrically powered wirelessly by induction by an external powereddevice.

Ideally, the low energy communications module is configured to beelectrically powered wirelessly by electromagnetic induction by anexternal powered device.

Preferably, the low energy communications module is configured to bewirelessly electrically powered by a wireless data communications signalfrom an external powered device.

In one embodiment of the invention the low energy communications moduleis electrically powered wirelessly through an induction coil located inthe electronic device.

Preferably, the induction coil is configured as a loop antenna forwirelessly communicating the low energy communications module with anexternal powered device.

In another aspect of the invention the external powered device isprogrammed to wirelessly communicate with the low energy communicationsmodule in the electronic device.

In a further embodiment of the invention the external powered device isconfigured to communicate wirelessly with a telecommunications network.

Preferably, the external powered device is configured to communicatewith a remote computer.

Advantageously, data downloaded from the electronic device is uploadedto the remote computer by the external powered device.

Preferably, the external powered device downloads data relating to ananimal on which the electronic device is located from the remotecomputer.

Advantageously, the data downloaded by the external powered device fromthe remote computer relating to an animal on which the electronic deviceis located is uploaded wirelessly by the external powered device to theelectronic device through the low energy communications module.

In one embodiment of the invention the remote computer comprises a cloudcomputer server.

Preferably, the external powered device comprises a programmable smartmobile device.

Advantageously, the smart mobile device is programmed by a softwareapplication (app) for communicating wirelessly with the electronicdevice through the low energy communications module.

Preferably, the smart mobile device is programmed by the app to displayon a visual display screen thereof data downloaded from the electronicdevice.

In one aspect of the invention the smart mobile device is programmed bythe app to display data relating to an animal on which the electronicdevice is located downloaded from the remote computer in response to thesmart mobile device downloading one of the identifying code of theelectronic device and the identifying code of the animal from theelectronic device.

In one embodiment of the invention the low energy communications modulecomprises a blue tooth low energy module.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the low energycommunications module comprises a Near Field Communications (NFC)module. Preferably, communications between the NFC module and anexternal powered device is in an NFC protocol.

Advantageously, the external powered device is programmed to wirelesslycommunicate with the low energy communications module in the electronicdevice.

Preferably, the smart mobile device is programmed by the app tocommunicate wirelessly with the electronic device through the NFC modulein an NFC protocol.

In another embodiment of the invention the external power devicecomprises a smart mobile phone.

The invention also provides an electronic device configured for locatingexternally on or internally in an animal comprising an electronic memoryand a low energy communications module configured to wirelesslycommunicate an external powered device with the electronic memory.

In one aspect of the invention the low energy communications module isconfigured to wirelessly communicate an external powered device with theelectronic memory of the electronic device for reading data from theelectronic memory to the external powered device.

In another aspect of the invention the low energy communications moduleis configured to wirelessly communicate an external powered device withthe electronic memory of the electronic device for writing data to theelectronic memory by the external powered device.

Preferably, the electronic device comprises a signal processor, and thelow energy communications module is configured to wirelessly communicatean external powered device with the signal processor.

Advantageously, the signal processor is resettable, and the low energycommunications module is configured to reset the signal processor inresponse to a reset signal wirelessly received from an external powereddevice.

Advantageously, the signal processor is programmable wirelessly by anexternal powered device through the low energy communications module.Preferably, the signal processor of the electronic device is configuredto communicate with an external powered device through the low energycommunications module.

In another aspect of the invention the electronic device comprises amonitoring means for monitoring a state of an animal on which theelectronic device is located, and the signal processor is configured forprocessing signals read from the monitoring means, and for producingdata indicative of a state of the animal.

In a further aspect of the invention the signal processor is configuredto store the data indicative of the state of the animal, and the lowenergy communications module is configured for wirelessly communicatingan external powered device with the signal processor for downloading thestored data indicative of the state of the animal to the externalpowered device.

In one embodiment of the invention the low energy communications moduleis configured for wirelessly communicating an external powered devicewith the signal processor for downloading the stored data indicative ofthe state of the animal to the external powered device cross-referencedwith an identifying code indicative of the identity of the electronicdevice stored in the electronic memory of the electronic device.

In another embodiment of the invention the electronic device comprisesan induction coil configured to provide electrical power to the lowenergy communications module in response to an electromagnetic fieldfrom an external powered device. Preferably, the induction coil isconfigured as a loop antenna for wirelessly communicating an externalpowered device with the low energy communications module.

Preferably, the low energy communications module is electrically coupledto a printed circuit board, and the induction coil is formed by anelectrically conductive track on the printed circuit board.Advantageously, the induction coil extends around the printed circuitboard adjacent the periphery thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention the electronic device comprises along range wireless communicating means for communicating the electronicdevice with a remote computing means. Preferably, the long rangewireless communicating means comprises a radio wave transmitter.Advantageously, the long range wireless communicating means comprises aradio wave transceiver.

In one embodiment of the invention the low energy communications modulecomprises a blue tooth low energy module.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the low energycommunications module comprises an NFC module.

Preferably, the NFC module is configured for communication with anexternal powered device when the external powered device is not morethan 100 mm from the NFC module. Advantageously, the NFC module isconfigured for communicating with an external powered device when theexternal powered device is not more than 75 mm from the NFC module.

Ideally, the NFC module is configured for communicating with an externalpowered device when the external powered device is not more than 50 mmfrom the NFC module.

Additionally, the invention provides a smart mobile device programmed byan app to communicate with the electronic device according to theinvention.

Preferably, the smart mobile device is programmed by the app tocommunicate with the electronic device in an NFC protocol.

Further the invention provides in combination an electronic deviceaccording to the invention, and an external powered device configured tocommunicate with the electronic device through the low energycommunications module.

Preferably, the external powered device comprises the smart mobiledevice according to the invention.

In another embodiment of the invention the combination according to theinvention further comprises a remote computer, and a communicating meansfor communicating between the electronic device and the remote computer.

Preferably, the communicating means comprises a relay station comprisinga radio transceiver for communicating with the electronic device, and aGSM module configured to communicate with the remote computer.

Advantageously, the remote computer comprises a cloud computer server.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly importantadvantage of the invention is that by virtue of the fact that theelectronic device is provided with a low energy communications module,such as an NFC module which is configured to wirelessly communicate withan external powered device, a farmer can readily easily communicate anddownload data stored in the electronic memory of the electronic devicedirectly into an external powered device, for example, a smart mobiledevice, such as a smart mobile phone suitably programmed with a suitablesoftware application. Additionally, the smart mobile device may beprogrammed to analyse the data downloaded from the electronic device inorder to assess the status of the animal. Furthermore, the provision ofthe low energy communications module such as an NFC module in theelectronic device permits downloading of an identifying code of theelectronic device which is stored in electronic memory of the electronicdevice and cross-referencing the identifying code of the electronicdevice with an identifying code of the animal. This, thus, permits theidentity of an animal to be readily identified by communicating with theelectronic device through the NFC module by an external powered device,for example, a smart mobile phone by merely bringing the smart mobilephone into close proximity, typically, within 50 mm of the electronicdevice in order to read out the identifying code of the electronicdevice and then identifying the cow from the cross-referenced data inthe mobile phone.

A further advantage of the method and the electronic device according tothe invention is that the provision of the low energy communicationsmodule, such as an NFC module in the electronic device where theelectronic device comprises a signal processor, for example, amicroprocessor, the signal processor can be programmed by the externalpowered device, and furthermore, can be reset by the external powereddevice. A further advantage of the invention is that by virtue of thefact that the NFC module is powered by the external powered deviceduring communications through the NFC module, no additional power isrequired from an on-board power supply, for example, a battery of theelectronic device to power the NFC module during communication with theelectronic device through the NFC module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of some preferred embodiments thereof, which are given byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block representation of an electronic device according tothe invention which is locatable on an animal for identifying theanimal,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an animal with the electronic device ofFIG. 1 attached thereto,

FIG. 3 is a block representation of an electronic device according toanother embodiment of the invention for locating on an animal formonitoring a characteristic or a state of the animal,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an animal with the electronic device ofFIG. 3 attached thereto,

FIG. 5 is a block representation of a routine of a software applicationwith which a smart mobile device is programmed to communicate with theelectronic device of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a view of a screen of the smart mobile device referred to inFIG. 5 displayed under the control of the software application of FIG.5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isillustrated an electronic device according to the invention, which inthis case is provided as an ear tag, indicated generally by thereference numeral 1, for attaching to an ear 2 of an animal 3, forexample, the ear 2 of a cow. The ear tag 1 is a tag-like device, andcomprises a tag-like housing 5. A stud (not shown) is provided forsecuring the ear tag 1 to the ear 2 of the animal 3. Such studs forsecuring an ear tag to an ear of an animal will be well known to thoseskilled in the art. In this embodiment of the invention the ear tag 1 isconfigured as an identity tag for identifying the animal, and comprisesa storing means which comprises an electronic memory, namely, anelectronic memory chip 6 which is mounted on a printed circuit board(PCB) 8, both of which are housed in the housing 5. An identifying codefor identifying the ear tag 1 is stored in the memory chip 6, and theidentifying code is unique and specific to the ear tag 1.

A low energy communications module, which in this embodiment of theinvention comprises a Near Field Communications (NFC) module 10 which isalso located within the housing 5. The NFC module 10 is mounted on thePCB 8 and is configured to wirelessly transmit the identifying codestored in the memory chip 6 in an NFC protocol to an external powereddevice, in this case a smart mobile phone 12 in response to a wake-upsignal transmitted by the smart phone 12 in an NFC protocol when thesmart phone 12 is in close proximity with the ear tag 1, in this case,when the ear tag 1 and the smart phone 12 are within a distance of lessthan 50 mm of each other. The NFC module is configured to communicate inthe NFC protocol at a frequency of the order of 13.56 MHz.

The smart phone 12 or other smart mobile device is programmed by asoftware application, namely, an app which configures the smart phone 12to communicate with the ear tag 1 in the NFC protocol, and whenprogrammed by the app, the smart mobile device is also according to theinvention. Furthermore, the combination of the electronic device 1 andthe smart mobile device when programmed by the app is also according tothe invention. The app of the smart phone 12 also configures the smartphone 12 to receive the identifying code of the ear tag 1 transmittedthrough the NFC module 10. Furthermore, the app of the smart phone 12also permits inputting of the identity of the animal 3 to which the eartag 1 is attached into the smart phone 12, and cross-referencing theidentity of the animal 3 with the identifying code of the ear tag 1 inthe smart phone 12. The identity of the animal may be inputted andstored in the smart phone 12 as any suitable numeric or alphanumericcode, and typically, is inputted and stored in the smart phone 12 as anidentifying code assigned by a State agency to identify the animal or anidentifying code generated by a farmer to identify the animal, or bothsuch identifying codes. Additionally, the app with which the smart phone12 is programmed configures the smart phone 12 to store data relating tovarious states, conditions, characteristics and the like of the animal3, which may be downloaded from a cloud computer server, and which arethen cross-referenced in the smart phone 12 with the identifying code ofthe animal, which in turn is cross-referenced in the smart phone 12 withthe identifying code of the ear tag 1.

An induction coil 14 is formed by an electrically conductive track 15which is formed during the formation of the PCB 8 and extends around thePCB 8 adjacent the periphery 16 thereof. The induction coil 14 isconfigured to form a loop antenna through which data signals arewirelessly communicated between the NFC module 10 and the smart phone 12during NFC communication therebetween. The induction coil 14 is alsoconfigured for powering the NFC module 10 by the smart phone 12 when thesmart phone 12 is in close proximity to the ear tag 1 duringcommunication through the NFC module 10 for reading the identifying codeof the ear tag 1 from the memory chip 6. The induction coil 14 iselectrically connected to the NFC module 10, and is configured so thatwhen subjected to the varying electromagnetic field produced by the datacommunications signal from the smart phone 12 during NFC communicationbetween the smart phone 12 and the NFC module 10, a current is inducedin the induction coil 14 for powering the NFC module 10 duringcommunication with the smart phone 12.

In use, when the ear tag 1 is initially attached to an ear 2 of ananimal 3, the smart phone 12 with the app installed therein andactivated is brought into close proximity with the ear tag 1, in otherwords, the smart phone 12 is brought within 50 mm of the ear tag 1. Thesmart phone 12 is then activated to wirelessly transmit a wake-up signalto the ear tag 1 in the NFC protocol. The electromagnetic fieldresulting from the data communications signal from the smart phone 12powers the NFC module during communication between the smart phone 12and the NFC module 10. On reception of the wake-up signal, the NFCmodule 10 wirelessly transmits the identifying code of the ear tag 1 inthe NFC protocol for reception by the smart phone 12. On receipt of theidentifying code of the ear tag 1, the identifying code of the animal isinputted into the smart phone 12 which is still operating under thecontrol of the app, and the identifying code of the ear tag 1 and theidentifying code from the animal 2 are stored in the smart phone 12 andcross-referenced with each other as the smart phone 12 continues tooperate under the control of the app.

If data relating to particulars of the animal 3, for example, healthconditions and characteristics of the animal, are already stored in thesmart phone 12, the particulars are also cross-referenced with thestored identifying codes of the ear tag 1 and the animal 3.

It is envisaged that in a herd of animals, for example, a herd of cows,each animal will have one ear tag 1 attached to one of its ears 2. Therespective ear tags 1 which will be attached to the ears of the animalswill be provided, typically at manufacture of the ear tags 1, withrespective unique identifying codes, unique to the respective specificear tags 1. The identifying codes will be written to and stored in thememory chips 6 at manufacture. As the ear tags 1 are being attached tothe ears 2 of the respective animals 3, the identifying codes will beread from the memory chips 6 of the corresponding ear tags 1 through theNFC modules 10 by the smart phone 12 operating under the control of theapp. As the identifying code is read from the memory chip 6 of each eartag 1, the identifying code of the animal to which that ear tag isattached if it has not already been stored in the smart phone 12 will beinputted into the smart phone 12, and then cross-referenced in the smartphone 12 with the identifying code read from the memory chip 6 of thecorresponding ear tag 1.

When it is subsequently desired to identify one of the animals of theherd of animals, the smart phone 12 is brought into close proximitywithin 50 mm of the ear tag 1 of the corresponding animal 3, and theidentifying code of the ear tag 1 is read by the smart phone 12 underthe control of the app from the memory chip 6 of the corresponding eartag 1 through the NFC module 10. The smart phone 12 under the control ofthe app then searches the identifying codes of the respective ear tags 1stored therein, and on finding the identifying code of the correspondingear tag 1, the smart phone 12 then displays the identifying code of theanimal. Additionally, if various conditions, characteristics or statesof the animals are stored in the smart phone 12, data indicative of theconditions, characteristics or states of the animal is then displayed onthe visual display screen of the smart phone 12. If data indicative ofthe conditions, characteristics and states of the animal is not alreadystored in the smart phone 12, and is available, for example, from a basestation or a cloud computer server, where such data may be stored, thedata indicative of the condition, characteristic and/or state of thatanimal is downloaded to the smart phone 12 and displayed on the visualdisplay screen of the smart phone 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6, there is illustrated an electronic deviceaccording to another embodiment of the invention which in this case isan electronic monitoring device, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 20, for monitoring various states of an animal 21, for example,a cow. The states of the animal 21 monitored by the monitoring device 20may, for example, be one or more of the following: the onset of oestrus,the intensity of the onset of oestrus, feeding, ruminating, resting andother such states of the animal. The monitoring device 20 may also beconfigured to monitor the temperature, blood pressure, heart rate andother health conditions of the animal, and it may also be configured tomonitor the onset of parturition in the animal. When monitoring for theonset of oestrus, the monitoring device may be of the type sold underthe Trade Mark MOOMONITOR by Dairymaster of County Kerry, Ireland. Sucha monitoring device as the device sold under the Trade Mark MOOMONITORwill be well known to those skilled in the art.

The electronic monitoring device 20 comprises a housing 22 which issecured to an appropriate part of the animal 21 by a strap 23. When theelectronic monitoring device 20 is of the type supplied under the TradeMark MOOMONITOR, the housing 22 is adapted to be secured to one side ofthe neck 24 of the animal 21 adjacent the head 25 thereof by the strap23, for determining whether the head 25 of the animal 21 is in a raisedstate or a lowered state and also for detecting the level of activity ofthe animal 21. A printed circuit board (PCB) 26 is located within thehousing 22. An accelerometer 27 is mounted on the PCB 26 within thehousing 22, and produces signals which are indicative to theacceleration to which the accelerometer 27 is subjected along two axesat right angles to each other, namely, along an X-axis and a Y-axis. Theaccelerometer 27 is located in the housing 22 so that when the housing22 is secured to the neck 24 of the animal 21 by the strap 23, thesignal produced by the accelerometer 27 indicative of the accelerationto which the accelerometer is subjected along one of the X and Y axes isindicative of the state of the head 25 of the animal 21, in other words,whether the head 25 of the animal 21 is in the raised state or thelowered state, and the signal produced by the accelerometer 27indicative of the acceleration to which the accelerometer 27 issubjected along the other one of the X and Y axes is indicative of thelevel of activity of the animal 21.

A signal processor, which in this embodiment of the invention comprisesa microprocessor 28, is mounted on the PCB 26 within the housing 22 forreading the signals from the accelerometer 27. The microprocessor 28 isconfigured to determine from the signals read from the accelerometer 27the state of the head 25 of the animal 21, and the level of activity ofthe animal 21. From this data various states of the animal 21 can bedetermined as will be discussed below.

A transceiver 30 is mounted on the PCB 26 within the housing 22 fortransmitting data indicative of the state of the animal 21, forreception by a remote computing means, namely, a cloud computer server29 or for reception by one or more relay stations 37 when the animal 21comes within range of one of the relay stations 37 for subsequenttransmission by the relay station to the cloud computer server 29. Datarelating to the animal would be stored on the cloud computer server 29.Alternatively, instead of storing data relating to the animal on a cloudcomputer server, the data may be stored on a computer at a remote basestation.

In this embodiment of the invention a single relay station 37 isprovided, and the data relating to the animal is stored in the cloudcomputer server 29. The data transmitted by the transceiver 30 from themonitoring device 20 is received by the relay station 37 and relayed bythe relay station 37 to the cloud computer server 29. Typically, therelay station 37 is provided with a transceiver for radio communicationwith the wireless transceiver 30 of the monitoring device 20, and a GSMmodule for communicating with the cloud computer server 29.

The microprocessor 28 may be programmed as will be described below totransmit the data indicative of the state of the animal 21 at predefinedtime intervals, and/or in response to an activation signal received bythe transceiver 30, transmitted from the relay station 37. It isenvisaged that the relay station 37 would transmit activation signals atpredefined intervals, for example, of one second to five seconds, whichwould be received by the transceiver 30 of the monitoring device 20,when the animal 21 to which the monitoring device 20 is attached comeswithin range of the relay station 37. Alternatively, the microprocessor28 may be programmed only to transmit the data through the transceiver30 in response to an activation signal received from one of the relaystations 37 after a predefined time period had elapsed from the previoustransmission.

In addition to the transceiver 30, the device 1 also comprises a lowenergy communications module, which in this embodiment of the inventioncomprises an NFC module 31, similar to the NFC module 10 of the ear tagof FIGS. 1 and 2. The NFC module 31 is also mounted on the PCB 26 withinthe housing 22 for communicating in an NFC protocol with an externalpowered device, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises asmart mobile phone 32. In this embodiment of the invention the NFCmodule 31 is configured to support two-way communications between thedevice 20 and the smart phone 32 operating under the control of asoftware application, namely, an app, which configures the smart phone32 to communicate in an NFC protocol with the NFC module 31 of themonitoring device 20.

An induction coil 33 formed by an electrically conductive track 34extending around the periphery 38 of the PCB 26 is configured forpowering the NFC module 31 by the smart phone 32 during communicationbetween the NFC module 31 and the smart phone 32. The induction coil 33is configured to form a loop antenna through which data signals arewirelessly communicated between the NFC module 31 and the smart phone 32during NFC communication therebetween. The induction coil 33 iselectrically coupled to the NFC module 31 and is configured to producean electrical current for powering the NFC module 31 in response to anelectromagnetic field generated by data communication signalstransmitted by the smart phone 32 during communications between the NFCmodule 31 and the smart phone 32.

A battery 35 electrically connected to a pair of electrical contacts(not shown) on the PCB 26 powers the microprocessor 28 and the othercomponents on the PCB 26 which require electrical power. However, theNFC module 31 is not powered by the battery 35 since as discussed above,it is powered by the smart phone 32 during communication through the NFCmodule 31, thereby saving battery power and extending the life of thebattery 35. Although, in certain cases it is envisaged that the NFCmodule 31 may be powered by the battery 35 during some data transferoperations through the NFC module 31 from the microprocessor 28.

An electronic memory, namely, a memory chip 36 is mounted on the PCB 26within the housing 22, and is configured to store a unique identifyingcode of the monitoring device 20, which is unique to that monitoringdevice. The NFC module 31 is configured to permit reading out of theidentifying code from the memory chip 36 in the NFC protocol by thesmart phone 32 with the app installed and activated in response to awake-up signal from the smart phone 32, when the smart phone 32 isbrought into close proximity within approximately 50 mm or less of theelectronic monitoring device 20. As discussed above with reference tothe ear tag 1, on receiving the identifying code of the monitoringdevice 20, the smart phone 32 is programmed under the app to store theidentifying code of the monitoring device 20 cross-referenced with anidentifying code of the animal 21, which if not already stored in thesmart phone 32 is inputted into the smart phone 32. Relevant datarelating to the animal 21 may also be inputted into and stored in thesmart phone 32, or may already have been inputted into and stored in thesmart phone 32. This data relating to the animal 21 is cross-referencedwith the identifying code of the monitoring device 20 stored in thesmart phone 32 and is also cross-referenced with the identifying code ofthe animal. Additionally, or alternatively, the app may configure thesmart phone 32 to upload and store the data relating to the animal 21cross-referenced with the identifying codes of either or both of themonitoring device 20 and the animal 21 to the cloud computer server 29.

Additionally, the app configures the smart phone 32 to programme or toreprogramme the microprocessor 28 of the monitoring device 20 in the NFCprotocol through the NFC module 31 of the monitoring device 20 when thesmart phone 32 is in close proximity, namely, within 50 mm or less ofthe monitoring device 20. The microprocessor 28 can be programmed to setthe length of the time intervals between the transmission of datathrough the transceiver 30 of the monitoring device 20. Also themicroprocessor 28 can be programmed by the smart phone 32 through theNFC module 31 to set the amount and type of data to be transmitted oneach transmission. Furthermore, the microprocessor 28 can be programmedby the smart phone 32 under the control of the app to select the states,conditions and characteristics of the animal to be monitored, and allsuch programming would be carried out by the smart phone 32appropriately configured by the app through the NFC module 31. Limits ofparameters against which various monitored signals are compared fordetermining the various states of the animal may be updated in themicroprocessor 28 by the smart phone 32 through the NFC module 31.

The state or states, condition, conditions, characteristic orcharacteristics of the animal may be read from the microprocessor 28 ofthe monitoring device 20 by the smart phone 32 through the NFC module 31under the control of the app. Additionally, data may be uploaded to themonitoring device 20 by the smart phone 32 through the NFC module 31under the control of the app in the smart phone 12.

In this embodiment of the invention the microprocessor 28 is programmedto determine one of the following states of the animal 21, namely, aresting state, feeding, ruminating and a highly active state. Themicroprocessor 28 continuously samples the signals produced by theaccelerometer 27 into a buffer (not shown) at a sampling rate ofapproximately 12.5 Hz during consecutive first predefined time periodsof 10.24 seconds each. At the end of each first predefined time period,the microprocessor 28 computes the average value of the sampled valuesof the signal read from the accelerometer 27 during that firstpredefined time period which is indicative of the state of the head 25of the animal 21, and from this computation determines whether the head25 of the animal 21 was in a raised state or in a lowered state duringthat first predefined time period. At the end of each first predefinedtime period, the microprocessor 28 determines the level of activity ofthe animal 21 during that first predefined time period from the spreadof the sampled values of the signal read from the accelerometer 27 whichis indicative of the level of activity of the animal during that firstpredefined time period.

From the position of the head 25 of the animal 21 and the level ofactivity of the animal 21, the microprocessor 28 is programmed todetermine the state of the animal 21. If the head 25 of the animal 21 isin the lowered state, and the spread of the sampled values of the signalread from the accelerometer 27 indicative of the level of activity ofthe animal is within a first predefined range of values, themicroprocessor 28 determines that the animal 21 is feeding. On the otherhand, if the spread of the sampled values of the signal read from theaccelerometer 27 which is indicative of the level of activity of theanimal is within a relatively low second predefined range of values,which is less than the predefined range of values indicative of feeding,irrespective of the state of the head 25 of the animal 21, themicroprocessor 28 determines that the animal is in a resting state. Ifthe head 25 of the animal 21 is determined as being in the raised state,and the spread of the sampled values of the signal read from theaccelerometer 27 which is indicative of the level of activity of theanimal is within a third predefined range of values which is less thanthe first predefined range of values and greater than the secondpredefined range of values, the microprocessor 28 determines that theanimal 21 is ruminating.

If the head 25 of the animal 21 is determined as being in the raisedstate, and the spread of the sampled values of the signal read from theaccelerometer 27 which is indicative of the level of activity of theanimal is above a predefined value, which is greater than the firstpredefined range of values indicative of feeding, the microprocessor 28determines that the animal 21 is in a highly active state.

At the end of each first predefined time period, the microprocessor 28increments by one an appropriate one of four counters which areconfigured within the microprocessor 28 and which correspond to the fourstates of resting, feeding, ruminating and highly active of the animal21.

At the end of respective consecutive second predefined time periods,which in this embodiment of the invention are of approximately 15 minutedurations, the number of first predefined time periods during thatsecond predefined time period during which the animal was in each or anyone of the four states of resting, feeding, ruminating and highly activeare stored in memory in the microprocessor 28 for subsequenttransmission through the transceiver 30 or through the NFC module 31.

In a herd of animals, for example, a herd of cows, each cow will beprovided with a monitoring device 20. When supplied to a farmer, themicroprocessor 28 will have already been programmed for monitoring thevarious characteristics and states of an animal, and the variouspredefined time periods will also have been programmed into themicroprocessor 28. However, only the unique identifying code of eachmonitoring device 20 will be stored in the memory chip 36. No codeidentifying an animal will have been assigned to any of the monitoringdevices 20. Accordingly, as the monitoring devices 20 are being attachedto the respective animals 21, the identifying codes of the respectiveanimals must be cross-referenced with the identifying codes of therespective monitoring devices 20 stored in the memory chip 36 of thecorresponding monitoring device 20. As discussed above, the identifyingcodes of each monitoring device 20 and the corresponding animal 1 arestored and cross-referenced in the smart phone 32, although theidentifying code of the animal 21 may be written to and stored in thememory chip 36 or the microprocessor 28 of the corresponding monitoringdevice 20 through the NFC module 31 by the smart phone 32 under thecontrol of the app. As the monitoring devices 5 are being attached tothe respective animals 21 the identifying codes stored in the monitoringchips 36 of the respective devices 20 are sequentially read out throughthe NFC modules of the devices 20 by the smart phone 32. If theidentifying code of the corresponding animal 21 has not already beenstored in the smart phone 32, the identifying code of the animal 21corresponding to the monitoring device 20 is entered into the smartphone 32 and cross-referenced with the identifying code of themonitoring device 20 and stored in the smart phone 32 cross-referencedwith the identifying code of the monitoring device 20. The storedcross-referenced identifying codes are then uploaded by the smart phone32 to the cloud computer server 29.

In this embodiment of the invention data indicative of the monitoredcharacteristics and states, and other data relating to the animal isstored in a database of a cloud computer server 29, which supports themonitoring devices 20. Additionally, data which is indicative of thestate or states of the animal which is either computed or determinedfrom the data indicative of the characteristics of the animal is storedin the database of the cloud computer server 29. Furthermore, the cloudcomputer server is programmed to compute and determine the health andother issues of the animal from the monitored data indicative of themonitored characteristics and states of the animal. In this embodimentof the invention the data indicative of the monitored characteristicsand states of the animal is transmitted through the transceivers 30 ofthe monitoring devices 20 to the relay station 37, which in turn uploadsthe data received from the monitoring devices 20 to the cloud computerserver 29 for subsequent processing.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation of the smart phone 32 andthe monitoring devices 20 under the app for cross-referencing theidentification codes of the respective monitoring devices 20 with theidentity of the corresponding animals 21 will now be described. FIG. 5illustrates a routine of the app which is executed by the smart phone 32under the control of the app each time the smart phone 32 is broughtinto close proximity with any one of the monitoring devices 20. FIG. 6illustrates a screen of the smart phone 32 which is configured by theapp and presented to a user as the smart phone 32 executes the routineof FIG. 5.

Turning now to FIG. 5, block 40 starts the routine each time the app iscalled up on the smart phone 32 and the smart phone 32 is brought intoclose proximity, within 50 mm of any one of the monitoring devices 20 tocommunicate with the monitoring device 20 in the NFC protocol throughthe NFC module 31. The routine then moves to block 41, which executes asubroutine in order to establish contact between the smart phone 32 andthe monitoring device 20 with which the smart phone 32 is in closeproximity in the NFC protocol through the NFC Module 31. On completionof the subroutine of block 41, the routine moves to block 42. Block 42checks if contact between the smart phone 32 and the NFC module 31 ofthe monitoring device 20 has been established. If block 42 establishesthat contact has not been established between the smart phone 12 and theNFC module 31, the routine returns to block 41. When block 42 determinesthat contact between the smart phone 32 and the NFC module 31 has beenestablished, the routine moves to block 43. Block 43 calls up asubroutine which causes the smart phone 32 to read the identificationcode of the monitoring device 20 from the memory chip 36 through the NFCmodule 31.

On the subroutine of block 43 having read the identifying code of themonitoring device 20 from the memory chip 36, the routine moves to block44. Block 44 executes a subroutine which establishes contact between thesmart phone 32 and the cloud computer server 29 which supports themonitoring devices 20. The identifying code of each monitoring device 20is pre-stored in the cloud database of the cloud computer server 29prior to sale of the monitoring devices 20. If this is not the firsttime that communication has been established with the monitoring device20 through the NFC module 31 by a smart phone, data relating to theanimal to which the monitoring device 20 is attached in general would bestored in the cloud database of the cloud computer server 29, and wouldbe cross-referenced with an identifying code of the animal and wouldalso be cross-referenced with the identifying code of the monitoringdevice 20 in the cloud computer database of the cloud computer server29. Once block 44 has established contact between the smart phone 32 andthe cloud computer server 29 the routine moves to block 45. Block 45requests the cloud server to check if an identifying code of an animalhas been assigned to the monitoring device 20 and cross-referenced inthe cloud computer database of the cloud computer server 29 with theidentifying code of the monitoring device 20 which is stored in thecloud computer database.

If block 45 determines that an identifying code of an animal has notbeen assigned to and cross-referenced with the identifying code of themonitoring device 20 in the cloud computer database, the routine movesto block 46, which displays an assignment screen on the smart phone 32which allows a farmer to input the identifying code of the animal, towhich the monitoring device 20 has just been attached, into the smartphone 32. The assignment screen which is displayed on the smart phone 32is illustrated in FIG. 6 and is described in more detail below. Theidentifying code of the animal is displayed on the assignment screen asit is being entered into the smart phone 32. The routine then moves toblock 47. Block 47 reads the identifying code of the animal which hasbeen inputted by the farmer into the smart phone 32, and the routinemoves to block 48. Block 48 stores the identifying code of the animalcross-referenced with the identifying code of the monitoring device inthe smart phone 32, and the routine moves to block 49. Block 49initiates a subroutine which causes the smart phone 32 to transmit theidentifying code of the animal cross-referenced with the identifyingcode of the monitoring device 20 to the cloud computer server 29, with arequest that the cross-referenced identifying codes of the respectivemonitoring device 20 and the animal 21 to which the monitoring device 20has been attached be stored in the cloud computer database of the cloudcomputer server 29.

Under the subroutine of block 49, the smart phone 32 also requests thatany data relating to the animal the identifying code of which iscross-referenced with the identifying code of the monitoring device 20just transmitted to the cloud computer server 29 which is stored in thecloud computer database be cross-referenced with the identifying code ofthe monitoring device 20 in the cloud computer database. The routinethen moves to block 50. Block 50 operates the smart phone 32 to requestall data relating to the animal, to which the monitoring device 20 hasbeen attached, which is stored in the cloud server corresponding to theidentifying code of the monitoring device 20 be downloaded to the smartphone 32. The routine then moves to block 51. Block 51 displays on thescreen of the smart phone 32 the data downloaded from the cloud computerdatabase relating to the animal, the identifying code of which iscross-referenced with the identifying code of the monitoring device 20in the cloud computer database. On displaying the data relating to theanimal on the screen of the smart phone 32, the routine then moves toblock 52, which ends the routine.

Returning now to block 45, if block 45 determines that an identifyingcode of an animal has already been assigned to and cross-referenced withthe identifying code of the monitoring device 20 in the cloud computerdatabase, the subroutine moves to block 50, which has already beendescribed, and the routine moves to block 51, which displays the datarelating to the animal from the cloud computer database on theassignment screen of the smart phone 32. Typically, if block 45determined that an animal identifying code had been assigned to andcross-referenced with the identifying code of the monitoring device 20,this would indicate that this was not the first time that the smartphone 32 has been brought into close proximity with the monitoringdevice 20. Therefore, once the identifying codes of the monitoringdevice 20 and the animal to which that monitoring device 20 is attachedhave been stored and cross-referenced in the smart phone, each time thesmart phone is brought into close proximity, within 50 mm of thatmonitoring device 20, and the smart phone 32 executes the app, theidentifying code of the animal is displayed on the assignment screen ofthe smart phone 32, along with any other data of that animal stored inthe smart phone 32 or in the cloud computer server database, therebyallowing the farmer to readily identify the animal, and providing thefarmer with all stored data relating to the animal.

Referring now to FIG. 6, as mentioned above, FIG. 6 illustrates theassignment screen which is displayed on the smart phone 32 in order toallow a farmer to input the identifying code of an animal to which themonitoring device 20 has been attached into the smart phone 32, and alsoto display data relating to the animal. The assignment screen of FIG. 6displays seven fields 55 to 61. The first field 55 is provided for anidentifying code of the animal which would be assigned to the animal bya farmer, and as that identifying code of the animal is being enteredinto the smart phone 32, the identifying code appears in the field 55.Field 56 displays the identifying code which has been read from thememory chip 36 by the smart phone 32. Field 57 allows the nationalidentifying code of the animal which has been assigned to the animal bythe State agency to be entered and displayed. Field 58 is provided forthe identifying code of the herd of which the animal is a member, oralternatively, a group of animals of the herd, which would be in asimilar environment. By knowing to which herd or group of animals from aherd a particular animal belongs, all of which share the sameenvironment as that animal, data relating to that animal received by thecloud computer server 29 can compare the data relating to the state orstates of that particular animal with corresponding data from otheranimals in the same herd or group of animals of which that particularanimal belongs, this allows a more accurate determination of the healthand other issues of that particular animal to be made by the cloudcomputer server.

Field 59 is provided for entering the date on which the animal, if, forexample, the animal is a cow, the cow calved. Field 60 is provided forentering the date on which the monitoring device 20 has been assigned toan animal. In field 61 other data relating to the animal is displayed,for example, data relating to various states of the animal, the healthof the animal and other relevant data relating to the animal which isstored in the cloud database, and downloaded therefrom by the smartphone 32 under block 50 of the routine of FIG. 5.

It will be appreciated that if desired, only one of the identifyingcodes of the animal may be entered into either field 55 or field 57 ofthe assignment screen of FIG. 6.

In use, with the monitoring device 20 attached to the neck 24 of theanimal 21 by the strap 23 and with the axes of the accelerometer 27configured to produce a signal indicative of the raised and loweredstates of the head 25 of the animal 21 and a signal indicative of thelevel of activity of the animal 21, the device 20 is ready for use. Withthe app loaded into the smart phone 32 and activated, the smart phone 32is brought into close proximity with the monitoring device 20, and thesmart phone executes the routine of FIG. 5. When the smart phone 32 isbrought into close proximity with the monitoring device 20 for the firsttime, the farmer inputs the identifying code or codes of thecorresponding animal into the smart phone 32, as described withreference to FIG. 5. Each subsequent time that the smart phone 32 isbrought into close proximity with the monitoring device 20, datarelating to the corresponding animal 21 is downloaded from the clouddatabase to the smart phone 32 and displayed on the screen thereof asdescribed with reference to FIG. 5.

If it is desired to programme or reprogramme the microprocessor 28 inthe monitoring device 20, such programming or reprogramming is carriedout by the smart phone 32 through the NFC module 31 with the smart phone32 operating under the control of the app and in close proximity to themonitoring device 20.

The microprocessor 28 continuously samples the signals produced by theaccelerometer 27 at the sampling rate, and at the end of each firstpredefined time period determines the state of the animal 21 during thatfirst predefined time period. At the end of each second predefined timeperiod, the microprocessor 28 stores the data relating to the states ofthe animal 21 and the number of the first predefined time periods theanimal 21 was in each of those states during that second predefined timeperiod.

On the animal 21 coming within range of the relay station 37, and onreceiving an activation signal from the relay station, themicroprocessor 28 operates the transceiver 30 to transmit dataindicative of the states and the number of times the animal 21 has beenin those states for each of the second predefined time periods sincesuch data was last transmitted by the monitoring device 20. The relaystation 37 then relays the data to the cloud computer server 29. Thecloud computer server 29 determines the health and other states of thecorresponding animal 21 by analysing the data received from themonitoring device 20. For example, if the animal is resting excessively,the animal may be in ill health, or lame. If the animal is not feedingsufficiently or not ruminating sufficiently, the animal may bedetermined as being in ill health. If the animal 21 is in the highlyactive state for longer periods than animals in the same herd, then theonset of oestrus in the animal may be detected.

Additionally, the microprocessor 28 may be activated by an activationsignal from the base station computer to transmit the data indicative ofthe states of the animal 21 and the number of times the animal 21 hasbeen in those states during each of the second predefined time periodssince the last transmission was made by the microprocessor 28 throughthe transceiver 30, or since the last transmission made by themicroprocessor 28 through the transceiver 30 to the relay station 37.

When it is desired to read the stored data relating to the states of theanimal and the number of times the animal was in those states during therespective second predefined time periods from the monitoring device 20through the smart phone 32, the smart phone 32 with the app activated,and in close proximity with the monitoring device 20, is operated tooutput an activation signal in an NFC protocol to the monitoring device20. On reception of the activation signal by the NFC module 31, themicroprocessor 28 is activated to transmit the data in NFC protocolthrough the NFC module 31 for reception by the smart phone 32.

Where it is desired to upload data to the monitoring device 20, suchdata may be uploaded through the NFC module 31 by the smart phone 32configured to operate under the app and in close proximity to themonitoring device 20.

Where it is desired to identify the animal 21, the smart phone 32 withthe app activated is brought into close proximity with the monitoringdevice 20 to read the identifying code of the monitoring device 20 fromthe memory chip 36 of the monitoring device 20 so that the identity ofthe animal 21 can be then readily read from the smart phone 32.

Where it is desired to programme or reprogramme the microprocessor 28 ofthe monitoring device 20, the smart phone 32 with the app activated isbrought into close proximity with the monitoring device 20, andprogramming or reprogramming of the microprocessor 28 is carried out inan NFC protocol by the smart mobile phone 32 through the NFC module 31of the monitoring device 20.

While the electronic ear tag and the electronic monitoring deviceaccording to the invention have been described as being particular typesof devices, the electronic ear tag and the electronic monitoring devicemay be of any other type, and where the electronic monitoring device isconfigured to monitor one or more states or one or more characteristicsor conditions of an animal, the states, conditions and/orcharacteristics monitored by the monitoring device may be any states,conditions or characteristics other than those described, for example,the monitoring device may be configured to monitor temperature, heartrate, blood pressure, or any other suitable state or characteristic ofthe animal. Furthermore, while the electronic monitoring device has beendescribed as comprising an accelerometer for determining the state ofthe head of the animal and the level of activity of the animal, anyother suitable monitoring sensor or sensors may be used. It will also beappreciated that the electronic monitoring device may be attached to thetail of an animal in order to detect the onset of parturition bydetecting the state of the tail of the animal, whether the tail is in araised state or a normal downwardly extending state.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that any other suitable securingmeans besides a strap may be provided for securing the electronicmonitoring device to the animal. It will also be appreciated that othersuitable means for attaching the electronic ear tag to the animalbesides a stud may be provided. Indeed, in certain cases, it isenvisaged that the electronic ear tag, and indeed the electronicmonitoring device may be of the type which would be implanted in theanimal, but would be located relatively closely to the skin in order tofacilitate Near Field Communications with the device.

While a specific sampling rate has been described at which the signalsproduced by the accelerometer are sampled, any other suitable samplingrates may be used. Needless to say, the first predefined time periodsand the second predefined time periods may be of any other suitable ordesired duration. In general, the first predefined time period would liein the range of 5 seconds to 25 seconds, although the first predefinedtime periods may be of greater or lesser duration. Additionally, thesecond predefined time periods may lie within a range of from 1 minuteto 60 minutes, and indeed in certain cases, the second predefined timeperiods could be of duration considerably longer than 60 minutes. Theduration of the second predefined time periods will largely be set basedon the states which are being monitored by the monitoring device.

While the monitoring device has been described as comprising atransceiver and an NFC module, it is envisaged in certain cases that themonitoring device may also be provided with a receiver for receivingidentification signals from predefined locations visited by the animal,such as a drinking trough, a feeding trough or the like. Themicroprocessor would be programmed to read the identification signalsand store data relating to the identity of the location visited by theanimal, the time of the visit and the duration thereof for subsequenttransmission and analysis by the base station computer.

While the signal processor has been described as comprising amicroprocessor, any other suitable signal processor may be provided, forexample, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller or any othersuch signal processor.

It is also envisaged that the transceiver may be operable under thecontrol of the microprocessor in two modes, namely, a high power modeand a low power mode, and would be operated in the high power mode fortransmission of data to the relay station 37, when the monitoring devicewould be out of range of the relay station to receive an activationsignal, and would be operated in a low power mode for transmission ofdata to a relay station when within range of the relay station.

While the electronic devices have been described for monitoring andidentifying cows, the electronic devices may be provided for use withany animals.

While the NFC module has been described for communicating with a smartmobile phone, the NFC module may be adapted for communicating wirelesslywith any other external powered device, for example, a tablet computer,and such communications would be carried out in an NFC protocol, andwould be two way communications.

While the low energy communications module has been described ascomprising an NFC module, any other suitable low energy communicationsmodule may be provided. For example, the low energy communicationsmodule could be provided by a blue tooth low energy communicationsmodule.

1. A method for communicating with an electronic memory of an electronicdevice locatable externally on or internally in an animal, theelectronic memory having an identifying code identifying the electronicdevice stored therein, the method comprising: locating a low energywireless NFC (near field communications) communications module on theelectronic device configured to wirelessly communicate an externalpowered smart mobile device with the electronic memory, configuring theexternal powered smart mobile device to wirelessly communicate with theelectronic device through the low energy NFC communications module in anNFC protocol, and to wirelessly communicate with a remote computer,bringing the external powered smart mobile device into close proximitywith the electronic device, initiating wireless communication betweenthe external powered smart mobile device and the electronic devicethrough the low energy NFC communications module in the NFC protocol bythe external powered smart mobile device, wirelessly reading theidentifying code identifying the electronic device from the electronicmemory of the electronic device by the external powered smart mobiledevice through the low energy NFC communications module in the NFCprotocol, if an identifying code identifying the animal on or in whichthe electronic device is attached is not stored and cross-referencedwith the read identifying code identifying the device in the externalpowered smart mobile device, entering the identifying code identifyingthe animal on or in which the electronic device is located into theexternal powered smart mobile device, and storing and cross-referencingthe entered identifying code identifying the animal, on or in which theelectronic device is located, with the read identifying code identifyingthe electronic device in the external powered smart mobile device.
 2. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 in which the electronic device isconfigured to monitor at least one of a plurality of states of theanimal and to store data indicative of the monitored states.
 3. A methodas claimed in claim 1 in which the downloaded stored data indicative ofthe state of the animal is stored in the external powered smart mobiledevice cross-referenced with the identifying code of the animal.
 4. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 in which the electronic device comprises asignal processor configured to be resettable wirelessly by the externalpowered smart mobile device through the low energy NFC communicationsmodule.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the signal processorof the electronic device is configured to be programmable wirelessly bythe external powered smart mobile device through the low energy NFCcommunications module.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which thesignal processor of the electronic device is configured to communicatewith the external powered smart mobile device through the low energy NFCcommunications module, and to download data therefrom through the NFCcommunications module to the external powered smart mobile device.
 7. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 in which the low energy NFC communicationsmodule is configured to be electrically powered wirelessly byelectromagnetic induction by the external powered smart mobile device.8. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the external powered smartmobile device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the remotecomputer through a telecommunications network.
 9. A method as claimed inclaim 1 in which data downloaded from the electronic device is uploadedto the remote computer by the external powered smart mobile device. 10.A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the external powered smartmobile device downloads data relating to the animal on which theelectronic device is located from the remote computer.
 11. A method asclaimed in claim 1 in which the external powered smart mobile device isprogrammed by a software application (app) for communicating wirelesslywith the electronic device through the low energy NFC communicationsmodule.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the externalpowered smart mobile device is programmed by the app to display on avisual display screen thereof data downloaded from the electronicdevice.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the externalpowered smart mobile device is programmed by the app to display datarelating to the animal on which the electronic device is locateddownloaded from the remote computer in response to the external poweredsmart mobile device downloading the identifying code of the electronicdevice from the electronic device.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the remote computer comprises a cloud computer server.
 15. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 in which the external powered smart mobiledevice comprises a smart mobile phone.
 16. In combination an electronicdevice configured for locating externally on or internally in an animal,and an external powered smart mobile device configured to communicatewith the electronic device, the electronic device comprising: anelectronic memory having an identifying code identifying the electronicdevice, and a low energy wireless NFC communications module located onthe electronic device and configured to wirelessly communicate theexternal powered smart mobile device with the electronic memory of theelectronic device in an NFC protocol, the external powered smart mobiledevice being configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronicdevice through the low energy NFC communications module in the NFCprotocol, to wirelessly communicate with a remote computer, towirelessly read the identifying code identifying the device stored inthe electronic memory of the electronic device through the NFCcommunications module in the NFC protocol, to permit entry of anidentifying code identifying the animal on or in which the electronicdevice is located into the external powered smart mobile device if anidentifying code identifying the animal on or in which the electronicdevice is attached is not stored and cross-referenced with the readidentifying code identifying the device in the external powered smartmobile device, and to store and cross-reference the identifying codeidentifying the animal with the identifying code identifying the devicein the external powered smart mobile device.
 17. The combination asclaimed in claim 16 in which the electronic device comprises a signalprocessor, and the low energy NFC communications module is configured towirelessly communicate the external powered smart mobile device with thesignal processor.
 18. The combination as claimed in claim 17 in whichthe electronic device comprises a monitoring means for monitoring astate of an animal on or in which the electronic device is located, andthe signal processor is configured for processing signals read from themonitoring means, and for producing data indicative of a state of theanimal, and to store the data indicative of the state of the animal, andthe low energy NFC communications module is configured for wirelesslycommunicating the external powered smart mobile device with the signalprocessor for downloading the stored data indicative of the state of theanimal to the external powered smart mobile device.
 19. The combinationas claimed in claim 16 in which the low energy NFC communications moduleis configured to be powered wirelessly by the external powered smartmobile device.
 20. The combination as claimed in claim 16 furthercomprising a remote computer, and a communicating means forcommunicating between the electronic device and the remote computer, andthe electronic device comprises a long range wireless communicatingmeans for communicating the electronic device with a remote computer.21. The combination as claimed in claim 20 in which the communicatingmeans comprises a relay station comprising a radio transceiver forcommunicating with the long range wireless communicating means of theelectronic device, and a GSM module configured to communicate with theremote computer.